Guitarist and composer Larry Simon’s interest in the Beat Generation stretches back to his teen years. The nonconformist, celebratory nature of beat poetry struck an immediate chord with the young musician.

“Back when I was a hippie teenager kind of kid, whenever Allen Ginsberg was reading I would go and see him,” Simon said. “Something about the non-mainstream perspective that the beats had just resonated with the kind of person I am.”

He later befriended David Amram, the composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work with Jack Kerouac in the 1950s helped manifest the modern approach to collaborative music and poetry.

When Simon moved to the Seacoast from New York in the mid 1990s, he brought Amram’s vision with him. He launched Beat Night shortly after settling here, and the event has taken place every month since.

“I was very inspired by (Amram) and the work he’s done with poets, so I thought maybe a good way to work with some artists in another discipline up here in New England is starting a series where I work with poets,” Simon said.

More than 15 years later, Simon has moved back to New York, but he still commutes to the Seacoast once a month to participate in Beat Night. On Thursday, June 21, he’ll host a special “Larry Doesn’t Live Here Anymore Beat Night.” It goes down on the second floor of The Press Room in Portsmouth from 7 to 8 p.m.

The upcoming celebration does not mark the end of Beat Night. Rather, it’s Simon’s chance to express his gratitude to the many poets, musicians and other community members who have helped make the event a success for so long.

“It’s my way of kind of saying thank you to everyone,” he said. “It’s such a beautiful thing.”

For those who have never attended Beat Night, it takes place on the third Thursday of every month at The Press Room. Poets read their work onstage while The Larry Simon Ensemble provides improvised musical accompaniment. The event usually includes themed readings from invited poets, followed by an open mike.

Despite the title of the series, Beat Night is open to poets of all genres. Simon aims to make the event as inclusive as possible.

“I always encourage young kids, elderly people, people who can’t stand the beat era and love Robert Frost,” he said. “It’s totally, 100 percent inclusive—all styles, all levels of experience, all ages.”

Beat Night began as a creative outlet for Simon and a way to meet fellow artists on the Seacoast. In New York, he had composed music for dance groups and filmmakers, working with artists in a variety of mediums. After leaving the creative mecca of the city, he was eager to tap into the Seacoast’s artistic community.

Simon and his band, Groove Bacteria, began serving as house band at the now defunct Crazy Cat Lounge, located on Congress Street in the former location of The Elvis Room. Beat Night began there, but only for a short-lived run. It shifted to The Press Room after Simon pitched the idea to manager Bruce Pingree. It’s been taking place there ever since, and the second floor is usually packed with guests.

The series has grown to include several annual themed events, including Undead Beat Night, a fundraiser for the Portsmouth Halloween Parade each October, and Teen Beat Night, which takes place every November. Simon is especially proud of his work with young writers, who are often reading publicly for the first time in their lives.

“Every Beat Night I’m just amazed at what I hear. But I always think of the teen writers, because there’s such vibrancy and such unexpected talent,” he said.

Throughout his years hosting Beat Night, Simon has been involved with the local music and poetry scene in myriad capacities. He is the creator of Jazzmouth, a multi-day jazz and spoken word festival that takes place in Portsmouth every spring. He has also hosted other impromptu events, including two well-attended “Hard Times” shows at The Press Room, featuring music of the Great Depression.

Simon was also a music teacher at the Newmarket Junior/Senior High School for nine years, but lost his job when the town eliminated a number of teaching positions last year. Simon moved back to New York in October, where he has resumed his work as a composer and rejoined an avant-garde Indonesian orchestra called the Gamelan Son of Lion. He also works as a substitute teacher and offers guitar lessons. But Simon still enjoys returning to the Seacoast for Beat Night.

The event on June 21 will feature many of Simon’s usual band members, including himself on guitar, Scip Gallant on keys, Cynthia Chatis on flute, Mike Barron and Frank Laurino on percussion, and Chris Stambaugh on bass. Any and all poets are invited to hop onstage and read with the band.

“I want anybody who has ever read or thought about reading to come down and bring a poem,” Simon said.

There will also be a “really big” cake to celebrate the occasion. But Simon stressed that Beat Night isn’t going anywhere. And, although he doesn’t live here anymore, he will continue traveling to Portsmouth to attend the event whenever he’s able.

“It’s not even remotely the last Beat Night,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I hope to be here every Beat Night through December.”

“Larry Doesn’t Live Here Anymore Beat Night” takes place on Thursday, June 21, from 7 to 8 p.m., at The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 603-431-5186.